Dual System in Daily World

On Friday, before the end of the school day, the homeroom meeting was nearing its conclusion. Standing at the podium, Yukino Momokari finished relaying the necessary announcements.

"…Even though the school festival is next week, you mustn't neglect your studies. Be sure to complete your assignments properly."

She reminded the students with a gentle smile.

"Yes, ma'am."

"That's all for today. Be careful on your way home."

"Thank you for your hard work."

As soon as Ms. Yukino finished speaking, the classroom erupted into chatter.

Among the students packing up their bags, Chisato was also getting ready to leave when he suddenly heard his name being called by the teacher.

"Suzumiya-san, and also Touma-san, I need a moment of your time. Please come to the faculty office."

Both Chisato and Kazusa were momentarily stunned but instinctively responded,

"Yes, ma'am."

For a brief moment, the atmosphere in the classroom froze, but it quickly returned to normal.

Many students glanced at them, some openly, some discreetly, most with playful yet harmless smiles.

Although the two sat at the very back of the classroom and generally kept a low profile, their outstanding looks naturally drew attention.

Because of this, even though nothing had ever been explicitly stated, their classmates had long since reached a tacit understanding about "them."

And now, with the homeroom teacher calling both of them to the faculty office at the same time, it was no surprise that the onlookers began to speculate.

In truth, Kazusa had similar thoughts, and the attention from all directions only made her feel more flustered.

She never thought there would be a day when she felt nervous about being called out by a teacher.

Back when she was just drifting through school, she had been scolded and reprimanded by various teachers countless times, but she had never taken it seriously.

When she was in a bad mood, she would even walk away mid-lecture before the teacher finished their scolding—either heading straight to the rooftop or leaving school altogether.

Compared to her, Chisato remained perfectly calm.

He wasn't sure why Ms. Yukino had suddenly called them, but he knew she was a good teacher. Besides, their school had no rules prohibiting student relationships.

After all, in a country like Japan, where declining birth rates were a serious issue, schools were more likely to encourage relationships than prohibit them. There was nothing to worry about.

He packed his books into his bag before turning to Kazusa.

"Let's go."

"…Mm."

Kazusa took a deep breath, then stood up and followed him out through the back door of the classroom.

As they walked, she asked,

"What do you think Ms. Yukino wants to talk to us about?"

"We'll find out soon enough. We haven't done anything wrong, so there's no need to be nervous."

Chisato kept his hands in his pockets, his composed demeanor calming Kazusa slightly.

However, she didn't quite agree that they had done "nothing wrong."

Ever since that night when he had stolen a kiss from her after walking her home, this guy had been picking the perfect times and places to "ambush" her at school.

Like in the library's quiet corners during lunch break.

Or in the first music room when Hitori wasn't around.

Completely disregarding her opinion!

Scoundrel…

As she thought about it, Kazusa's cheeks reddened slightly.

The two knocked on the door and entered the faculty office.

Chisato noticed that several teachers were smiling at him. 

Their reactions were noticeably different from usual, and considering the recent midterm exams, he had a faint idea of what was coming.

"Suzumiya-san, congratulations! You ranked first in the entire grade on this midterm!"

As soon as they arrived, Ms. Yukino cheerfully shared the good news with him.

The official announcement for the midterm rankings was scheduled for next week, but as a teacher, she naturally had access to the results beforehand.

Kazusa looked at Chisato in surprise, while he, grinning, accepted the teacher's congratulations.

In the middle of it, he even snuck a playful glance at her, eyebrows slightly raised.

That smug look was practically begging for praise.

She really couldn't do anything about him. Maybe she should treat him to something later to celebrate.

Kazusa, who was secretly crossing her arms in her mind, was genuinely happy for Chisato, though she only showed it through a subtle smile.

After finishing with Chisato's announcement, Ms. Yukino turned her attention to Kazusa.

The moment their eyes met, she let out a small whimper, her eyes filled with joy and excitement.

Then, without hesitation, she grabbed Kazusa's hands.

Her sudden reaction left Kazusa bewildered. She had no idea why the teacher was acting this way.

"Touma-san, congratulations to you as well! Your midterm results this time were absolutely incredible!" 

"Your ranking jumped up by eighty-three places! That's amazing! You've really been working so hard lately. Your mother will surely be proud of you!"

To Yukino Momokari, Kazusa's improvement was even more gratifying than Chisato securing first place.

Chisato had always been an outstanding student, excelling not just academically but in his overall character. He had never been a concern.

Kazusa, however, was different.

Back in her first year, she frequently skipped class, showed no respect for teachers, and had poor relationships with her classmates—a textbook problem student.

But recently, she has completely turned things around.

She no longer slept through classes and had started listening attentively. She even submitted her homework on time. And this effort had paid off significantly.

It was a simple concept.

Chisato making further progress from an already excellent position was impressive, but Kazusa turning over a new leaf and walking the right path—undoubtedly, that was what truly moved Ms. Yukino as a teacher.

"This is just wonderful!"

Ms. Yukino, still a relatively young teacher, now held Kazusa's hands and gently swayed them, her pure joy making her seem less like a teacher and more like a close friend.

Kazusa had never experienced anything like this before.

From childhood to now, all she had ever received from teachers were cold stares and disdain, which she always ignored without a care.

But now, standing before her was a homeroom teacher offering her warmth and genuine happiness.

She had no idea how to respond to such kindness and enthusiasm, so she just stood there stiffly, her face blushing as she struggled to find words.

It was honestly a little funny to watch.

Chisato, who was standing beside her, couldn't help but chuckle.

Noticing this, Kazusa shot him a fierce glare.

"Anyway, the reason I called you two here today was to tell you this good news. And also… this."

Ms. Yukino finally let go of Kazusa's hands and turned to her desk drawer to get something.

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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta

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